TAG In Action: Successful Strategies

As part of its national call to action, Adolescent Health: Think, Act, Grow® (TAG), the Office of Adolescent Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has identified a number of successful strategies for improving adolescent health throughout the country. Some of the successful strategies have related TAG in Action webinars with more information from program staff.

The A Place 4 Me initiative is working to prevent and end homelessness among youth and young adults (ages 15 to 24), with special emphasis on youth leaving foster care without the material and emotional support of a family.

Aqui Para Ti/Here for You is a clinic-based health youth development program in Minneapolis, Minnesota that provides medical care, coaching, health education, and referrals for Latino youth and their families.

CANFIT works with communities and youth to develop culturally resonant policies and practices that improve food and fitness environments for adolescents in low-income communities and communities of color.

In an effort to reach more teens across the city, the Chicago Public School (CPS) and the Chicago Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) Office of Adolescents and School Health partnered to develop public awareness campaigns and programs that would complement their existing, evidence-based Teen Outreach Program® (TOP) model.

Colorado 9to25 is a collective, action-oriented group of Colorado youth and adults working in partnership to align efforts and achieve positive outcomes for all youth, ages 9-25, so they can reach their full potential.

The Georgia Campaign for Power & Potential (GCAPP) empowers young people to make healthy choices, which in turn ensures their ability to achieve their full potential, unencumbered by teenage pregnancy, bolstered by strong physical health, and supported by healthy relationships.

The Houston Health Department Office of Adolescent Health Services’ Teen Community Health Worker program teaches youth about adolescent health resources and risks and how to share health information with their families, communities, and schools.

The University of Michigan Health System Adolescent Health Initiative (AHI) advances innovative approaches to adolescent-centered healthcare through practice improvement, education, research, and youth and community engagement.

The Minnesota Partnership for Adolescent Health (MPAH) was formed in 2014 with support of the Maternal and Child Health Advisory Taskforce and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), Community and Family Health Division. MPAH’s mission is to support the health and development of all Minnesota youth and young adults’ ages 10-24 years old.

MY TURN provides youth with comprehensive workforce recruitment, education, exploration, preparation, placement, and follow-up to ensure they are successful in achieving their career and education goals.

The Our Whole Lives sexuality education program, together with the Sexuality and Our Faith resource, helps teens make informed and responsible decisions about their relationships, health and behavior within the context of their faith. The United Church of Christ and the Unitarian Universalist Association developed both curricula.

Birth to 22: United for Brighter Futures (Birth to 22) supports the healthy growth, development, and education of children and youth prenatal through young adulthood, so that they can graduate from high school and succeed in life.

The Wisconsin-based Providers and Teens Communicating for Health Program (PATCH), is an innovative, teen-delivered educational program that strives to improve the ability of health care providers and teens to communicate effectively about sensitive health topics—such as sexual health, mental health, alcohol and drug abuse, or safety—thereby improving the quality of care that the teens receive.

Sources of Strength is a universal, peer-leadership approach to preventing youth suicide, bullying, violence and substance abuse. The program trains peer leaders to use positive social norming methods to create healthy climate and cultural change.

The Teen Health and Success Partnership (THSP) at the University of Rochester offers young people the chance to learn valuable job and life skills, connect with mentors, and access educational support.

Marc Berk, a volunteer baseball coach in Gaithersburg, Maryland, started a small project to remove a barrier to youth participation in sports leagues: fee waivers. By simplifying the fee waiver process, Berk’s project increased youth sports participation in his community.

Rodney Smith, a student at Alabama A&M University, started Raising Men Lawn Care to help his community raise youth to become positive adults. Through the organization, young people volunteer to provide lawn care services to those without the ability or means to maintain their lawns.

The SPOT (Supporting Positive Opportunities for Teens) is a comprehensive health and social services center that serves young people ages 13 to 24 in St. Louis, Missouri. The program’s vision is “Youth partnering with community for social justice and health.”

The New Orleans Trauma-Informed School Learning Collaborative provides support to schools as they transform their climate to become trauma sensitive and build their capacity to implement, sustain, and improve the delivery of trauma-focused services.

The U.S. Soccer Foundation’s Safe Places to Play and Soccer for Success programs help communities address childhood obesity and juvenile delinquency and increase options for safe afterschool programming.

The Caught in the Crossfire program meets young victims of violence at their hospital bedsides in order to prevent retaliatory violence, offer practical help, and provide a path toward safety and healing.